CT Biz Blogs

This is a problem that all small businesses that have blogs will run up against from time to time — you are already busy, and now you’re adding another thing to your hectic schedule. How can you possibly keep up the pace?

There’s no simple answer to this, but there are tactics you can use to help you when you’re stuck and just don’t have time. Here are a few:

• Get help. If you have employees, perhaps one of them would like to blog. Or ask other people — clients, vendors, family.
• Take pictures. “A day in the life” is always popular, or post pictures of your employees, workbench, or coffee pot. See Signs Never Sleep for examples on that.
• Write a link post. If you have a list of online resources that you check regularly or can recommend, share them.
• Clean out the storage room. You should keep a backlog of post “inventory” for busy days. Drag them out, dust them off, and put them on display. And you can write ahead. Just because a post is time-stamped when it’s published doesn’t mean you have to write it on that date. You can keep a draft in your blog application and quickly post it when the time comes. And many blog applications allow you to pick a date in the future, and the post will automatically publish at that time (not Blogger, Google’s blogging platform, however).

If you’re just beginning, here are a few tips to get you on the right track so that you won’t reach that no-time panic point right away:

• Start small. When you take the plunge and begin blogging, don’t start with an aggressive schedule. That will give you time to learn how you work best with blogging, and what you’ll need for support.
• Have a plan. Create a list of ideas for you to use in a crisis. Have an emergency plan and have a backup plan.
• Have a schedule. Monday - Friday, only on weekends, whatever. If readers know what to expect, they’ll be fine with it.
• “Borrow” from other collateral. Don’t just reproduce your brochures, that’s boring. But you can quote and make a comment or two about what that section means. Here’s a chance to add more depth & the personal touch.

If all else fails and disaster strikes, and you really, really don’t have time — write about that (briefly, of course). Bloggers often say things like “this will be a quiet few days — need to take care of x” and things of that sort. Don’t do it too often, but as my mother would say, “If it happens, it’s not the end of the world!”